Pages

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Devore Shelter, CA - Large orange cat desperately flees from animal control officers, but is ultimately caught in the main office. When unnamed office personnel were questioned about the scene they reported that the furry escapee had sauntered in so smoothly that they originally assumed he might be a tempopary employee hired to fill in for an employee out on maternity leave, but then they quickly became suspicious when they noticed that he was frantically dialing numbers and meowing for help... trying to get his message out to "Please choose adoption first!"

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Since Halloween is right around the corner I wanted to share a few safety tips to help you keep your pet safe. If you have any additional suggestions please share in the comments below...

* No tricks or treats. That bowl of candy is not for your dog or cat so put it where they can't reach it. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Also, candy containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause liver damage and death. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

* Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations away from your pets. It's best not to take a chance that they might chew on them and get shocked.

* If you are decorating with carved pumpkins and candles makes sure they are placed where your pet cannot reach them. You wouldn't want the candles to get knocked over and have a fire to contend with. Curious pets could get burned by candle flames.

* Don't leave pets unmonitored in costumes. Besides causing stress, you want to make sure your pet doesn't get caught in clothing while trying to escape from it. Make sure costumes don't constrict movement, hearing or impair your pets ability to breathe. In addition, make sure there are no small dangling parts that could be chewed off or choked on.

* Even the most social dogs would benefit by being kept separate and safely away from the front door. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful. Also, you don't want to take a chance of your pet becoming frightened and darting outside.

* Tag Tag Tag!!!!! I can't overstress the importance of this! Always make sure your pet has tags on and is microchipped (and that all microchip information is up-to-date). If for any reason your dog or cat escapes and becomes lost, tags and a microchip can bring them home. I've been told that you have a 95% chance of having a pet returned if they are wearing identificiation and have a microchip.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Awareness and intolerance of animal abuse is gradually becoming more widespread and stricter laws are slowly being adopted. One particularly controversial practice is the use of bullhooks on circus elephants. These are sharp metal-tipped rods which are used to prod, poke and sometimes puncture an elephant's skin. Videos have surfaced that show circus staff violently striking elephants.

Currently there are no federal laws protecting elephants from the cruel use of bullhooks or electric prods, however some counties have passed bullhook bans and Connecticut may become the first state to ban them.

Beginning today and through the rest of the week, Ringling Bros. Circus will be performing in Cleveland, Ohio. Peta is offering a $500 reward to any employee of Quicken Loans Arena who is able to catch on photo or film a circus employee using a bullhook or similar weapon on an elephant. Ohio Revised Code 959.20, which was originally passed to help protect livestock, states "no person shall directly or indirectly or by aiding, abetting, or permitting the doing thereof put, place, fasten, use, or fix upon or to any work animal used or readied for use for a work purpose ... electric or other prods, or similar devices."

With all of this controversy and growing discomfort and criticism over the useage and treatment of wild animals in the circus, it makes me wonder why circuses continue to include them. Maybe it's time for a change... time to retire the old acts and come up with something new, fresh, unique, interesting and even... humane. Perahaps new shows using domestic rescue animals. Even old circuses - like old dogs - can learn new tricks.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Hi...do you know me??? I am a purebred Yorkshire Terrier. Pardon my appearance, maybe you didn't recognize me. I've been so busy making babies. It's hard to be beautiful when you live in filth and never get bathed.

Maybe you know one of my children, there are hundreds of them out there in the world. I know not where. They were taken from me so young. I hope they have forgotten me and this sad place I can never leave. This tiny cage with its wire floor is my world. I have never left it. It is all I know. Is there something else? I know this cage. I know loneliness. I know fear. I know pain. I know sickness. I know hunger. I know thirst...I know how to make babies. That's all I know.

Is there more? Why are you here? I only know humans mean pain. What do you mean by help? What is Kindness? What is love? What is there beside what I know? Will you show me? Will you not forget me here? I want to know what else there is beside this hell I live in. Help me please, I can not help myself.

There is a bill in the US Congress that will help dogs in puppy mills all over the country, the PUPS Act. House-HR835, Senate-S707. So far 25% of representatives have signed on in support. Please use the link: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml to find your US (not state) Senator and Representatives and write or call, much more effective than email, to encourage them to support the PUPS Act. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION AND PUT AN END TO THIS INDUSTRY FOREVER! TOGETHER WE WILL BE HEARD! MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT LISTEN AND DO NOT STOP UNTIL PUPPY MILLS ARE OUTLAWED AND ANIMALS ARE PROTECTED!

Be their voice and their guardian angel, end the suffering of these innocents, once and for all ♥

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

This is an idea I posted a few years ago to a group of rescuers and am now tossing out to the binary winds once again... Oftentimes rescues need generous, caring and knowledgeable volunteers to help foster animals. In addition, potential fosters are sometimes hesitant to help because they don't know what to expect.

This is where an established and experienced rescue organization or individual can help. By creating a curriculum and setting up classes or workshops through community venues such as shelters, adult enrichment classes at local colleges, high school, or city parks and recreation, rescuers would have an opportunity to connect with people seriously interested in fostering.

Classes could focus on various topics that would be important and helpful such as providing a safe environment, resources, common illnesses, costs involved, etc... In addition, courses could even be broken into parts. For example, the initial classes could be more informational and upon completion (and with approval), graduates could become fosters with the rescue and sign up for "foster support" classes where they would continue to learn.

Besides learning, participants would pay for the initial classes and that fee could then be funneled back into rescue. So, not only is this an opportunity at education, but it could also be a source of revenue for rescue. Some groups may already be doing something similar, but for those who haven't tried, this idea may be worth exploring....